Abbotsford Gogos

09/01/2026

October 4th Sip & Savour at Restaurant 62 is the not to be missed event of the year! The $50 tickets include a glass of wine or non-alcohol beverage and gourmet appies. The afternoon includes great listening (or dancing) music by Each Other, a turkey draw, jellybean guess, silent auction, door prizes, handmade tote sales and the joy of knowing you are supporting the African Grandmothers.

1 to 4pm October 4th, Restaurant 62, 110-33559 Marshall Road V2S 1K8. Please contact Deb 778-232-4077 or Maureen 604-217-0999 for tickets.

08/29/2026

Today's headline from 'The News', Abbotsford.
Abbotsford woman to celebrate 80th birthday by cycling 80 miles for fundraiser
An Abbotsford woman is celebrating her 80th birthday by cycling 80 miles in support of African women who are raising their grandchildren orphaned by the AIDS crisis.

Jean Douglas-Webb is participating for the ninth time in the Solidarity Cycle on behalf of the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign.

For the first four years, Jean Douglas-Webb participated as part of a team of Lower Mainland cyclists in the Solidarity Cycle.
In the four years that followed, she has been doing the route alone, and she is doing the same this year.

Douglas-Webb starts on Bradner Road in Abbotsford on Sunday, Sept. 13 – National Grandparents Day.

She travels a loop that then takes her through Sumas Prairie to Sardis and out to Gibson Road, crosses the highway on the overpass, heads west on Yale Road to Prest Road and goes back through Chilliwack and Sumas Prairie to where she started in Abbotsford.
In recognition of the 20th anniversary of the campaign, Douglas-Webb would like to reach 1,000 new donors who each donate $20 – for a total of $20,000.

Since her first ride in 2018, she has raised a total of $54,600.

Douglas-Webb is a member of the Abbotsford Gogos (which is the Zulu word for “grandmother”).

In 2010, she travelled with other Canadian grandmothers to South Africa and Eswatini (Swaziland), where a gathering was held of 500 grandmothers from 12 African countries.

It is estimated that African grandmothers are caring for more than 14 million children orphaned by AIDS.

Money raised from the Solidarity Cycle goes to the Stephen Lewis Foundation, which supports community-based organizations that are working to turn the tide of AIDS.

The organization provides support groups, grief counselling, access to health care, income-generating projects, help to send their grandkids to school, and more.

Stephen Lewis died in March of this year, and Douglas-Webb said participants in the Solidarity Cycle are honouring his legacy by recommitting to the organization’s work.

Donations to Douglas-Webb’s campaign can be made at https://slf.akaraisin.com/ui/grandmotherscampaign2026/p/jean2026

Visit stephenlewisfoundation.org or grandmotherscampaign.org for more information.

08/12/2026

In just one month Jean will be on the road - riding 80 miles!! to celebrate her 80th birthday and to raise funds for the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign. You can support her ride and the grandmothers in Africa by donating. Follow this link to donate - and please share with friends! The more the merrier! Let's help Jean reach her goals!
https://bit.ly/jean2026

07/13/2026

Join us for this special online event as we celebrate 20 years of the SLF's Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign!

Twenty years ago, African and Canadian grandmothers came together to spark a global movement rooted in solidarity, care and community.

Now, in lead up to the 26th International AIDS Conference, we're hosting a powerful panel of speakers, featuring grandmother leaders from Uganda, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Canada.

They will reflect on the leadership of African grandmothers, international grandmothers’ solidarity, centring the priorities of older women, and shaping the future of the global HIV response.

🗓️ July 21, 2026�
⏱️ 10:00 Eastern | 14:00 UTC | 17:00 East Africa

Register today at the link in the comments.

We are proud that IAS - International AIDS Society has accepted our event as an Affiliated Independent Event.

07/02/2026

Our apologies. There was a problem with the link to Jean's fundraising page in the posting below. Please go to https://slf.akaraisin.com/ui/grandmotherscampaign2026/p/jean2026 to donate to Jean's ride - 80 miles on September 13 in support of the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign

07/02/2026

Happy Canada Day. Jean celebrated by going for a long ride - getting ready for her 80 mile ride on September 13th in support of the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign and to mark her 80th birthday. She met up with a group of cyclists who did 159 km today to celebrate Canada Day (BC Randonneurs Cycling Club). That's almost 100 miles! Hmmm - wonder if that will be Jean's goal for her 100th birthday!

We all would like to see her reach her goal of 1000 new donors who would each donate $20 in commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the Grandmothers Campaign. Can you help Jean reach her goal? Please donate your usual amount (or more!) But in addition please talk to your friends and family about how important this fundraising effort is. Let's find those new donors!!
The USA, Canada and other countries have cut back on global funding and the consequences are devastating. It is up to us to fill the gaps and support the Grandmothers. Jean's ride is the one small thing she feels that she can do and making a donation to her ride is one big thing we can do.
Those tires need traction to complete the ride and your support will give traction to her fundraising goals!
Be an old donor!
Be a new donor!
Spread the word!
Join us in supporting her ride!
Here is the link to the fundraising page:
https://slf.akaraisin.com/ui/grandmotherscampaign2026/p/jean2026
Thanks so much for your support! Randonneurs # Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign

06/18/2026

“Listen to the grandmothers.”

This is the advice Thenjiwe Sheila Gubuza wants to share with the Stephen Lewis Foundation community. As a member of Grandmothers Against Poverty and AIDS (GAPA) in South Africa, she knows firsthand how grandmothers understand the needs of their families and communities.

Through GAPA, 600 grandmothers regularly come together to share challenges, access support, and care for one another. Their impact reaches across generations, creating safe spaces where children can enjoy a healthy meal, learn and play.

06/10/2026

It’s that time of year again..🚴🏾‍♀️

This ain’t no Bing Crosby crooning ‘Around the World in 80 Days’. It’s our cycling member, Jean, cruising around the Fraser Valley for 80 miles (128 kms)! Why 80 miles you might ask? Because when she sets out on September 13th she will have been 80 years old for two months. If the Grandmothers we partner with can raise grandchildren, haul water many miles, and support their communities, then she feels that surely she can pedal her way to her goal of 80 miles on her Rocky Mountain Road Bike (not electric)..

The goal is set, the training underway, and here is what you can do:

We all would like to see her reach 1000 new donors who would each donate $20 in commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the Grandmothers Campaign. Please donate your usual amount (or more!) But in addition please talk to your friends and family about how important this fundraising effort is. Perhaps they will be new donors!

The USA, Canada and other countries have cut back on global funding and the consequences are devastating. It is up to us to fill the gaps and support the Grandmothers. Jean's ride is the one small thing she feels that she can do and making a donation to her ride is one big thing we can do.

Those tires need traction to complete the ride and your support will give traction to her fundraising goals!

Be an old donor!
Be a new donor!
Spread the word!
Join us in supporting her ride!

Here is the link to the fundraising page:

https://slf.akaraisin.com/ui/grandmotherscampaign2026/p/jean2026

Thanks so much for your support!

06/08/2026

Would your group or organization like to hear more about the Stephen Lewis Foundation and the work of our partners in Africa? Contact us to arrange a presentation. We'd love to share the stories.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgeSih5fa14.

Send a message to learn more

05/30/2026

Climate challenges are adding new layers of complexity and uncertainty in the global HIV response. In this edition of Grassroots, you’ll discover how SLF partners are supporting their communities in the face of climate crises.

You’ll also find reflections on the remarkable life and legacy of SLF co-founder Stephen Lewis, whose commitment to justice, grassroots leadership, and collective action continues to guide our work.

Thank you for being part of this community and for championing climate, health and social justice to end AIDS.

Get Grassroots today!